This review contains spoilers for Euphoria Season 3 Episode 3.
Following two episodes that already felt like they were taking Euphoria into completely uncharted territory, episode three feels like a landmark (or at least the beginning of one) due to not some huge event – which actually happens – but how intentionally everything is within it. There’s no huge crescendo; we’re being primed for something momentous instead. It goes from Rue (Zendaya) being caught by the DEA to Nate’s (Jacob Elordi) life crumbling in front of him, and even Laurie’s parrot dying. The entire episode feels like the calm before the storm, even though it’s loud and chaotic in itself.
For this reason, the episode does feel much more slow-paced. This doesn’t necessarily mean boring, but it definitely feels like the episode is holding back a little bit. While on paper a great deal seems to happen throughout the episode, the progress doesn’t feel that real. Instead, things feel like they are being put into place for something bigger later on, almost as if the show is taking a small step back before jumping ahead again.
Rue’s story arc so far continues to be the most interesting thing to follow. Even with everything else escalating around her, her storyline still seems the most grounded compared to the rest. It finally feels like everything is catching up to her, shown most clearly at the end with the DEA pull-over (something we’ve arguably been waiting for), but it’s also the most concrete arc currently developing, and it gives her story the most impact.
Even the smaller moments in Rue’s journey are so effective; the phone call to Fez is a perfect example, and although one-sided, it hits you just as much as if he were physically present. These moments of quiet really hit home in a loud and chaotic episode, and Zendaya conveys Rue’s understanding of the situation without her being fully stable so effectively.
The wedding itself, however, is another story. It barely feels like it is meant to be an emotional moment at all; it is frankly ridiculous. This episode plays much more as dark comedy, with everything so over-the-top in terms of visuals, behavior and sheer excess that you can’t really empathise with either Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) or Nate’s predicaments at all, it’s simply a constantly evolving “what is actually happening?”.
Cassie is so hard to sympathise with right now. She just seems to be continually doubling down on her decisions rather than taking a step back and acknowledging what is actually happening. Even during the emotional moments of the episode at the wedding or later at the confrontation, you can’t help but wonder what is so important to her. You’re not feeling her pain; it just feels like another bizarre thing that is happening as part of her spiral.
Nate is no different. His plot becomes more hectic and chaotic, as does everything around the debt he owes, but despite that, he doesn’t really surprise you. It feels like that’s exactly where he was going and that the dramatic final scene at the end is merely an escalation of where we expected him to end up.
Getting more focus in this episode was the character of Jules (Hunter Schafer), which is great as it feels like a long time since we’ve seen her feel fully integrated in the story. Her introduction allows us an insight into the life she has created for herself, but it isn’t quite the most gripping part of the episode; parts of her arc feel very intentionally uncomfortable, but don’t seem to quite fully come together. It still feels very much like a set-up.
Maddy (Alexa Demie) seems like she’s been wasted the most this episode; her presence at the wedding should have had a lot more impact, considering her history with Nate, and yet, the episode simply doesn’t delve into that at all. The sadness displayed is quite real when observed, but there appears to be more than the episode allows; you are left feeling like more should be done here that we aren’t shown.
Overall, what is apparent from this episode of Euphoria is how separate the season is beginning to feel, and in only three episodes’ time, the direction that each character and storyline appears to be going feels vastly different and is not really coming together. It’s clearly laying the groundwork for what’s coming next, and there are enough moments here to keep you watching. It just doesn’t feel like a standout episode on its own.
You’re left invested in parts of it, but it doesn’t really leave much of a lasting impact. It feels more like a stepping stone for bigger, more dramatic things rather than something that fully works on its own. More of a bridge between moments than a moment itself. At this point, it’s clear the show is building towards something; it just hasn’t fully delivered on it yet.
